A fire gutted the basement of a Millington home Saturday after embers from a first-floor wood stove started a blaze in an abandoned fireplace connected by a common chimney.

Millington Fire Chief Drew Solomon said firefighters first responded to a report of a flue fire at 93680 Canyon Lane. By the time they arrived, the residents had checked the chimney and determined the fire was out.

But firefighters returned about two hours later when the residents reported a fire in their basement. Five engines, two water tenders, two rescue trucks, one squad truck and 23 firefighters from Millington, Sumner and Greenacres responded and were able to limit the damage primarily in the basement.

Solomon said there was some limited smoke damage on the first floor, but the fire didn’t climb up the stairs from the basement and no one was injured.

“Someone must have been watching over them,” he said.

The fire started in an unused fireplace in the basement, Solomon said. He said it was possible some embers from the flue fire went down the chimney and warmed up old coals.

The owner of the house is Jennie Tobiska.